Means for sealing containers



Nov. 13, 1928.

A. DANIELS MEANS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 18. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 g ATTORNEY NOV. 13, 1928.

1,691,707 A., DANIELS MEAN; FOR SEALLING CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 18. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V N T O R fl/v mom DAN ELS jkTTORNEV ANTHONY DANIEI S, OF NEWARK, NEV] JERSEY.

Fries.

MEANS FOR SEALING CONTAINEBS..

Application filed February 18, 1924. SerialNo. 693,446.

This invention relates to improvements in means for setting containers. More particuiariy, it directed to apparatus for effecting a closure on the ends of flexible tube receptacles such as are in' common use for holding fluid or plastic materials like dental crean'i, soap, paints, medicinal preparations, and the like.

C ne object of the invention is to provide a mec ianism or apparatus of the character described which shall operate to effect an improved positive closure for tubes of thecharactor described in a simple and highly efficient manner.

A further object is to provide an apparatus or mechanism of the character described wh'ch shall be adapted for use alike with tubes made of inelastic metallic alloys composed of lead, tin. and the like, as well as tubes made of celluloid compounds or the {like material, which are neither sufficiently plastic to stay folded where the sides of the tube are pressed together and the bottom edge folded in to form a seal nor suitable 'to hold a clip over such seal by pressing same into the material of the tube.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafterpointed out. r

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims. I Tn the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one'of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a vfew in side elevation of the main portion of a sealing apparatus embodying my invention showing a clip in place ready to receive a tube end;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation correring to Fig. 1; y i

3 a sectional view taken on line 3-3 1 showing the means for operating int movable clamp arm through the plunger;

Fig. 1 Fig. 1; I V

Fig. 5 a-sectfonal view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the means for operating the back movable clamp arm and ejecting means; I V V Fig. 6 is a View in side elevation of a fragis a top view corresponding to nentary portion of the apparatus illustrated 111 Fig. 1 showln'g'the clamping" of the clip and the tube-end 'and the bending of the clinched portion prior to the folding thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view inside elevation similar to 6 but showing the clamping means released and the plunger finishing the folding operation to seal the tube end; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 88 of Fig. 2 showing the feeding track and pusherfor the clip. Referring in detail to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention there illus trated comprises a base-frame 10 supporting an upright member 11; the upper end thereof forming a bearing 12 for a main drive-shaft 13, wvhich may be driven by anyv suitable source of power, not shown' A beveled gear 1 1 fastened to shaft 13 and meshes with a similar gear 15 secured on the upper end of a vertically extending driven-shaft 16 supand 5; Forwardly extending from the lower, DO-111011 of plunger 19 a pressure-head 21 having a groove 22 on the bottom side thereof. fixed supporting ledge 23 projects forwardly of the base 10 to extend under head 21. and a grove 24 in ledge23 may be provided in alignment with groove 22 on head 21 to hold a closure clip 25 in position for receiving the end portions ofa tube 26 to be sealed. The clip 25 is normally J or hooked shaped having legs 25 and 25 of unequal lengtlnthe former being the longer, and said clip 25 fits with its bent portion in groove 22 and the free end of leg 25 in grooveQias shown in Fig. 1. w

Pivoted to swing on lugs 27 also projecting from the front side of .plunger 19 is a clamp arm 28. thelower end thereof being urged forwardly by aspring 29 fastened to one ofthe lugs 27 by a screw 30. To actuate the lower end of arm 28 rearwardly, the upper .end thereof may be forced forward by a cam-rod 31 moving in a bushing 32' secured in plunger 19. The rear end of rod 31 may beprovided with a cam roller 33 tion the clip. 25 and the end portion of tube which rides on cam 34 fast on driven-shaft 16. Figs, 1 and 3 plainly show the means whereby the rotation of cams 34 on shaft 16 will cause the lower end of arm 28 to swing rearward and the spring 29 to furnish means for the return movement. Cams 34 may be provided with a wide bearing face to accommodate the movement of the end of camrod 31 with the plunger 19.

A rear 01511 111) end or ejecting piece 35 may have a push rod 36 extending rearwardly thereof which passes through the lower portion of upright member 11 below the plunger 19 and between springs 20. A rod 36. is urged, rearwardly by a shaped flat spring 37, one, end thereof being fastened to. member 1.1, and the other adjustably anchored to, the

, free end of rod 36. A pivoted bearing piece 3,8. is interposed between the rod 38 and a cam 39 rigidly mounted on shaft 16. Fi s. 1 and 5,, plainlyshow the means whereby the rotation of cam 39 will cause the clamp end on ejecting piece 35 to slide forward, and

the spring 37 to furnish means for effecting the return movement.

The closure operation may now be described. Let it be assumed that the machine parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2

V r and 4. with a clip between grooves 22 and gears 14 and 15 will rotate shaft 16 with the i 24. The end portions of a tube 26 with its sides pressed together s inserted up into the bend of clip 25. Drive Shaft 13, through cams 34 and 39. Cam 34 will force the lower end of clamp arm 28 rearward to firmly clinch the end portion of tube 26 between the legs 25'and 25 of clip 25., see Figs. 1, 3 and 6. Bear clamp end 35 has a V-shaped surface 35 against which the leg 25 of clip 25 bears and during the above chnching opera- I 26 is. bent to conform with the shape of surface 35- a result of the pressure'exerted' by the co-acting surface 28." on clamp arm 28 as. shown in Fig. 6. 7 Further rotation of shafts 13 and; 16 releases the clamp arm 28 and clamp'end 35 from the action of the cams l 34 and 39 respectively, and permits the spring 29, to swing arm 28, forward and spring 37; to. slide end 35 rearwardly away from the clip 25 and tube 26, which is meanw hile supported in the grooves 22- and 24 As soon as clamping elements 28 and have been moved from under pressure head 21, the w cam 18" is arranged to force the plunger 19 down to. fold the clinched portion of the clip 25-andend rtion of tube 26 to form seam asfshown in" ig. 7. Further rotation of shaft 13 releases the plunger 19 from the action of cam 18 and permits, springs 20, toreturn the plunger and pressure head 21 to. their in tial position shown in F1g..1. The up? v' ar'd'moive n t of h d 21 is follewed y a forwardmoyement of clamp end 35 to. its initial position, thus ejecting the finished tube The bottom rear portion of arm 28 the grooves 22 and 24, and a pusher 42, which is slidingly oscillated on track 41 by means driven from shaft 16. The latter means may comprise a cross-head 43 ,to which pusher 42 is secured, a pivoted crank member 44 for operating the cross-head 43, and a bell-crank 45 pivoted atone end to the base 10 and carrying on the other end a cam roller- 46 which rides on a cam 47'mounted over cam 39 to rotate with shaft 16, A screw 48 which preferably is adjustable may be threaded into, crank 45 tobcar against member 44. On movementof cranlr'45 outwardly from shaft 16 due to-the action of cam 47, member 44 will be forced to travel therewithand will slide cross-head 43 and pusher 42 to the left looking at the machine as shown in Fig. 2. Further rotation of shaft 16 releases crank 45 from the action of cam 47 and permits the retractile spring 49 fastened between base 10 and member 44-to swing the latter to the right with the cross head 43 and pusher 42. An adjustable stop in the form of a screw 50 threaded into upright member 11 may be provided to limit the swing 'movement of member 44 to the right.

The feeding of a clip 25 into grooves 22 and 24 is timed to take place immediately after the ejection of the tube 26 as described, the position of the parts being then as shown ,in F ig; 2. During the closure operation, the

pusher, 42 is slid to the right until the for ward end thereof frees the outlet of the magazine 40. The lower clip 25 which previously rested on the upper side of the pusher 42 drops down on rail 41 and after the be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the em As various possible embodiments might bodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawingsis to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent r 1. A machine for effecting a closure on an end of a collapsible tube with a clip comprising means forretaining the. clip, means for clamping together the sides of the tube end between the sides of the clip, and means for thereafter folding the clinched clip and tube end portion to form a seam.

2. A machine for effecting a closure on an end of a collapsible tube with a clip, comprising means for clamping the sides of the tube end betweenthe sides of the clip and for thereafter folding the clinched clip and tube end portion to form a seam, parts of said clamping means serving to'eject the tube after completing the closure.

3. A machine for effecting a closure on'an end of a collapsible tube end with a clip comrisin means for clam in to ether. the

side of the tube end between the sides of the clip, and for thereafter folding the clinched clip and tube end portion to. form a seam, and means forfeeding clips to parts of said first mentioned means'in position to receive the tube ends in proper sequence for continuous operation.

4. A machine for effecting a closure on an end of a collapsible tube end with a clip comprising means for clamping together the side of the tube end between the sides of the clip and for folding the clinched clip and tube end portion to form a seam, parts of said clamping means serving to eject the tube after completing the closure, and means for feeding in position to receive the tube ends in proper sequence for continuous operation. 5. A machine for sealing an end of a collapsibletube with a clip comprising means for retaining the clips two movablemembers for clamping together the sides of thetube end between the sides of the clip, and means for thereafterflbending the clip and the clinched portionof the tubepreparatory to folding thereof to form a seam.

v 6.,In a machine for effecting a closure on an end of acollapsible tube with a clip, the combination of means for holding the clip in position to receive the pressed together sides ofthe tube end,'a magazine forv holding asupply of clips, and means for feeding one clip at a time from the magazine to the holding means in sequence for con tinuousoperation. p J V a 7. A machine for sealing an vend of a collapsible tube with a clip comprising means for retaining the clip, two movable members for clamping together the side of the tube end between the sides of the clipand for portion to form a seam, one of said movable members arranged to eject the tube after i completing the closure.

9. A machine forsealing a tube end with a clip comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to the tube endand for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof, and a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixed portion of the machine to fold the bent clinched portion to forma seam, and grooves in the said head andsaid machine part for holding the clip in place. 1 A

10. In combination with a machinefor 'ef fecting a closure on a tube end with a clip having a clip holding means, of a magazine for holding asupply of clips, and means for feeding one clip at a tlme from the magazine to the holding means in sequence and posit on for cont nuous operatlon, said feedlng and positioning means comprising a track and a pusher on the track for moving a clip.

11. A machine for eflecting a closure on an end of a collapsible tube with a clip com-- prising means. for clamping together the sides of the tube end between the sidesof the clip and for folding the clinched clip and the tube end portion to form a seam, and amagazine for holding a supply of clips, and

means for feeding one clip at a timefrom the magazineto the clamping andfolding means in sequence and position forcontinu ous operation. v

J 12. A machine for sealing a tube end with a clip, comprising two movable members for clamping the cli to the tube' end and for bending the'clinc ed portion preparatory to folding thereof, and a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixed portion of the machine to fold thebent clinched portion to form a seam, therebeing grooves in the said head and saidjmachine paitfor holding the clip in place, a magazine for holdinga supply of clips, means for feedingone clip at a time from the magazine and for positioning the clip in the grooves, and means for controlling the sequence ofthe movement of the elements of the machineto permit'continnous operation.

, 131A mach'ne a clip, comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to the tube end and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to for sealing a tubeend with folding thereof, and a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixed portion of the machine to fold the bent clinched portion toform a seam, there being grooves in 'the said head and said machine part for and positioning meansv comprising a trackand a pusher on the track for moving a clip.

14. A machine for sealing a tube end with a clip: comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to, the tube end and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof, and a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixedpart of the machine to fold the bent clinched portion to form a seam, and a magazine for holding a supply of clips, and means for feeding one clip at a time from the magazine to the clamping and folding elements andmeans for controlling the movable machine elements to permit continuous operation.

15,. A machine for effecting the closure for sealing a tube end comprising means for holding a folded clip while the tube-end is inserted in the bend thereof, and'means for clamping the clip and tube-end together and forthereafter making a fold in. the clinched portion. I

' 16. A machine for effecting the closure, for sealing a tube end comprising means for holding a folded clip While the tube-end is inserted inthe bend thereof, and means for clamping the clip and tube-end together and for making a fold in theclinched portion, and means for ejecting the tube after c0m pleting the closure.

17 Ajmachine for effecting the closure, for sealing a tubeend comprising 'means for holding a folded clip while the tube-end is inserted in the bend thereof, means for clamping the clip and tube-end together, and for making a fold-in the clinched portion, and mean for feeding and positioning the clips in proper sequence for continuous operation.

18. A machine for effecting the closure for sealing a tube end comprising means for holding a folded clip While the tube-end is inserted in the bend thereof, means for clamping the clip and tube-end together and for making a fold in the clinched portion, means for ejecting the tube after completing the closure, and means for feeding and positioning the clip in proper sequence for continuous operation.

19. A machine for effecting theclosure for sealing a tube end comprising means for holding a folded clip while the tube-end is inserted in the bend thereof, two movable members for clamping the clip over the tubeend, one of said members having a V-shaped surface against which the longer end of the clip bears and the other members having a pressure surface bearing on the shorter end of the clip, shaped to coact with the first metioned member for clinchingthe tube-end therebetween, and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof.

20. A machine for effecting the closure for sealing a tube end comprising two movable members for clamping a folded clip to the tube-end, said members having pressure surfaces shaped to bend the clinched portion preparatory te -folding thereof, a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixed part of the machineto fold the bent Y clinched portion to form a seam, there being grooves in the said head and said machine part for holding the clip in place, the bend of the clip in the head-groove and the free end ofthe longer'side of the clip in the machine part groove.

21. A machine for effecting the closure for sealing a tube end comprising two movable members for clamping a folded clip. to the tube-end, said members havingpressurc surfaces shaped to bend the clinched portions preparatory to folding thereof, a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixed part of the machine to fold the bent clinched portion to form a seam, there being grooves in the said head and said machine part for holdin the clip in place, the bend of theclip in the head-grooveand the free end of the longer side of the clip in the machine part groove, and one of said movable members arranged to eject the tube after completing the closure.

22. A machine for effecting the closure for sealing a tube end comprising two movable members for clamping a folded. clip to the tube-end, said membershaving pressure surfaces shaped to bend the clinched portions preparatory to folding thereof, a movable pressure head coacting with a relatively fixed part of the machine to fold the bent clinched portion to form a seam, there being grooves in the said head and said machine part for i 11.5

in place, the'bend of the groove and the free end of holdin the cli clip in the head the longer side of the clip in-the machine prising means for applying the clip to the collapsed end of the tube and for folding the said tube end portions to form a seam, all operating parts of said means being cooperatively positioned to effect the complete closure operation While the tube is in a relatively fixed position. I p

24. A machine for effecting a closure for sealing an end of a collapsible tubewith a folded clip comprising means for clamping together the sides of the tube end between the folded sides of the clip and partially bending the clinched portions ofthe tube and clip, and means for folding said bent clinched portions to form a seam.

25. A machine for effecting a closure for sealing an end of a collapsible tube with a folded clip comprising means for clamping together the sides of the tube end between the 15 actuated after said bending operation for e folding said bent clinched portions to form 20 a seam. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature I ANTHONY DANIELS. 

